Separable cuff link-button



C. D. LYONS.

SEPARABLE CUFF LINK BUTTON. APPLICATION FILED FEB. II. 1918.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

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CHARLES D. LYON'S, 0F MANSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

SEPARABLE CUFF LINK BUTTON.

Application filed February 11, 1918.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Cnannns D. LYONS, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Mansfield, in the countyof Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inSeparable Cuff Link-Buttons, of which the following description, inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, likecharacters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to cuff buttons, and more particularly toseparable cuff link-buttons of the type provided with independent buttonmembers adapted to be separately inserted in and retained by the opposededges of a cuff, said button members being provided with means wherebythey may be connected or disconnected at will.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying illustrationof one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view showing the blank for the frontor outer head of each button member; K

Fig. 2 shows the blank for forming one side of the flanged post or shankfor the stud-carrying button member;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same blank when formed to constituteone side of the shank or post;

Fig. at is an end elevation of the same;

Fig. 5 shows the blank for forming one side of the shank or post for thesocketcarrying button member;

Fig, 6 is a side elevation of the same blank when formed to constituteone side of the socket-carrying post or stud;

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the same;

Fig. 8 is a plan of the outer head blank after being assembled with thetwo posts or stud pieces of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the assembled blanks shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 11 shows a reinforcement in the form of a channel plate or clipwhich is applied to the edges of each stud or post to stiffen and bindtogether the two side edges of the post;

Fig. 12 is a section in plan taken on the line 1212 in Fig. 13, showingthe stud- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919 Serial No. 216,627.

carrying button member after the reinforceinent and the stud have beenassembled and permanently swaged in place;

Fig. 13 is a view of the same button member shown in sectionalelevation;

Fig. 14 is a sectional plan showing the socket-carrying button memberafter the reinforcement shown in Fig. 11 has been applied to the edgesof the post and permanently swaged in position;

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 16 is a sectional elevation on the line 1616 in Fig. 14, showingthe construction of the resilient socket formed by the two walls of thepost;

Fig. 17 shows the two completed button members connected together andholding between them the edges of a soft cuff;

Fig, 18 shows a modified construction of blank wherein the reinforcementshown in Fig. 11 is provided as a part of the blank for the shank orpost; and

Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional plan taken through the post and showing themanner in which the reinforcing wing on the blank is curled over theedge of the opposing blank to stiffen the edges of the post.

Referring to the drawings, while my improvements may be embodied inseparablelink cuff buttons of varying proportions and with difierentconstructional details and relative arrangement of parts, herein forillustrative purposes I have shown a separable cuff link-buttonembodying the broad principles of the cuff link-button disclosed andclaimed in patent to Barney No. 885,135. This is indicated in itscomplete form in Fig. 17 and is therein shown to consist of twoindependent button members 1 and 2. Each member has a main front orouter head 3 with a face ordinarily presenting some ornamental,attractive design, the two faces being exposed on the outside of therespective cuff edges. Each member also has an inner or back head 4,which is herein shown as smaller than the outer head 3, the inner headbeing of asize which is best adapted to be easily inserted from theoutside through the button'hole of the cuff edge, but to be thereretained in the cuff, each button member being held by its cuff edgeindependently of the other, whether said button members are connected(as shown) or disconnected (as they may be).

Each outer head member is of substantially the same construction. Thisconstruction may be varied, but consists, in the illus-' trated form ofbutton, of a disk-like blank or plate 5, the outside of which is coveredby a cap-piece 6, which may be suitably shaped to carry theornamentation. The latter may be as elaborate as desired, but forms noessential part of the present invention. The cap-piece 6 has its edgesrolled or flanged over the base plate 5 after the button member has beencompletely assembled.

The inner or back heads are also of sub-. stantially similarconstruction in the two button members, and may be finished orprotected, as shown by a flanged plate 7, the

edges of which are rolled over the edges of the inner head-piece, thelatter, including the flanged plate, being centrally and suitablyapertured to provide for the stud and socket connection hereinafterdescribed.

In the form of button herein shown, the two button members are connectedby a resilient or yieldable connection comprising a stud 10 which servesas a link or coupling member between the two button members, and aresilient socketiece indicated at 31 (Fig. 17) formed by the walls ofthe post or shank on the opposing button member, into which socket thehead of the stud is entered and by which it is retained when snappedinto place. The construction and operation of this stud and socketconnection will be best understoodby briefly describing the parts whichform the shank or post in the herein illustrative embodiment of theinvention, and the steps which are followed in forming and assemblingthem, it being observed, however, that the invention may be embodied inwidely different forms, and its scope is not to be limited by thespecific illustrative description of these minor details.

In the form of button shown, each outer head has substantially the sameform of base-plate 5 (Fig. 1) the latter being in the shape of a diskprovided with a transverse slot 15, in which slot the two membersconstituting the side walls of the post are anchored or secured when thebutton is assembled.

For convenience of maufacture, the con struction of the post or shank issubstantially the same in the socket-carrying member as in the studmember, difl'ering. only as to the details which provide for forming aresilient socket in the one member, and for permanently retaining theprojecting stud in the other member. In forming the shank or post forthe stud-carrying member, two blanks 16 (see Fig. 2) are formed and arethen stamped each into the shape shown in Figs. 3 and 4, two of thesestampings being face to face to form the post. Each stamping consists ofa lower flanged foot 17 and a substantially semicircular, fianged head18 connected by an upright plate 19, the latter having formed therein adepression 20 which is adapted when the button is assembled to form apart of the'permanent seat or socket for the stud 10. In the stampingshown in Figs. 3 and 4, the edges of the upright plate 19 are preferablyribbed or corrugated as indicated at 21 to stifl'en or strengthen thewalls of the post along its edges, and to enable the reinforcing member,which is later applied, to better grip the edges.

The post or shank for the socket-carrying member is constructed from ablank 25 (Fig. 5) which is similar to the blank16, except that the blankis slit or cut to form the tongue 26, so that when the blank is pressedinto shape it has (like the post member shown in Figs. 3 and 1) flangedfeet 27 and the semi-circular, flanged head 28 united by the uprightwalls 29 with the ribs or corrugations 30, but the socket 31 which isformed is of a resilient nature.

In assembling the socket-carrying button member, the two post parts,like those shown in Figs. 6 and 7, are applied to the plate 5 byinserting the feet 27 through the slot 15 of the plate and giving themthe position shown irf Figs. 8, 9 and 10. After being assembled in thisposition, a channel reinforcement or union 35 like that shown in Fig.11, is placed over the adjacent edges of the post walls 19 so as to lapover the corrugations 30, and the assembled parts permanently united (asindicated in Figs. 14 and 15) by pressing this channel member into placeby means of any suitable die or press. hen the parts are thus pressedinto union, a mandrel or die-pin is preferably inserted within theresilient socket 31 to prevent deformation of the latter.

WV hen the parts of the socket-carrying post are pressed into ,union,the tips of the two tongue pieces 26 assume some such position as isshown in Fig. 16, where they are firmly pinched or held by the plate 5Within the slot 15 at about the point of bend between the feet 27 andthe upright walls 29 of the post. The result is that a socket is formedwith a plurality of vertical slits which extend up into the contractedneck or throat 36 of the socket, the walls of the socket, however, beingunited at the bottom thereof, and the walls of the post at either sideof the socket being stiffened and prevented from separation by thecorrugations .30 and the reinforcing clips 35. A socket will thus beobtained having the desired resiliency,-that is to say, strong enough toprevent accidental or unintentional detachment, while of suflicientresiliency easily to permit an intentional separation of the buttonmembers,yet one which will not tend to weaken. or lose its initialresiliency or strength under long-continued usage.

In forming the stud-carrying member, substantially the same procedure isfollowed as in connection with the socket-carrying member, except thatin place of the die-pin or mandrel, the post 10 is placed in thepermanent socket 20 and the metal swaged tightly around the same so asto leave it permanently positioned and as a permanent part head of thestud in place. The inner or under part of the head 11 of the stud isbeveled or shaped so as to cooperate with the socket walls and force thelatter apart for the release of the stud when sufficient parting pull isapplied to detach the one member from the other.

Preferably the neck 36 is given a sufficient flare, as shown, and thebutton members and post are otherwise so proportioned that thestud-carrying member with its coupling link or stud is adapted to have alimited swinging or rocking movement in either direction when the twobutton members are coupled together, thereby permitting the buttonmembers to adapt themselves more or less to the slight inclination whichthe cuff edges may bear toward each other. The relative tilting movementof one but ton member with relation to the other when the two membersare attached, may be provided for wholly by the limited swinging ortilting movement of the stud within the socket 31 and neck 36 of thesocket memher, the stud being held rigidly fixed and immovable in thestud-carrying member, or, if desired, the stud may be allowed a veryslight rocking movement in its permanent seat 20, thereby slightlyincreasing the possible range of tilting movement of one button withrelation to the other, but, in either case, the stud constitutes aswinging coupling member or link by means of which the two buttons maybe detached or coupled together at will.

In Figs. 18 and 19, I have shown a slightly modified form of reinforcingunion for the two post members, but embodying the same principles asalready described. Instead of the channel clip or reinforcement 35, theblank 16 out of which one side of the post is formed, may 'be providedwith the lateral Wings or projections 50 (see Fig. 18), so that, whenassembled face to face with the other or remaining post member (likethat shown in Figs. 3 and 4), the reinforcing wings 50 may be rolledover and swaged into uniting relation with the corrugations 21, the twopost members being thus united in the same fashion as by the previousconstruction shown in Fl 12. In the modified construction as descr'bed,it is obvious that the post for the socket-czwrying member may besimilarly constructed.

Claims:

l. A separable cuff link-button, comprising independent button memberseach provided with an outer head and a relatively smaller inner headconnected by a shank or post, the inner heads being adapted to beinserted through the opposite button-holes of the cuff, facing eachother, and there retained each independently of the other, said membershaving means for detachably securing them together, comprising a studmember carried by one button and project ing from the inner headthereof, and a resilient socket formed by the walls of the post in theother member,.said stud and said socket having cooperating formation topermit the stud to be inserted within or withdrawn from said socket bythe resiliency of the walls thereof.

2. A separable cuff link-button, comprising independent members eachhaving an outer head and an inner head, the inner heads being adapted tobe inserted through the opposite button-holes of the cuff, facing eachother, and there retained each independently of the other, a shank orpost con .necting the heads in each member, the post for one membercomprising two opposing walls forming a resilient socket. longitudinalribs or corrugations for stiffening said walls, and a stud carried bysaid other button member for engaging said resilient socket.

3. A separable cuff link-button, comprising independent members eachhaving an outer head and an inner head, the inner head being adapted tobe inserted through the opposite button-holes of the cuff, facing eachother, and there retained each independently of the other, said membershaving means for detachably securing said button members together,comprising a stud carried by one button member and projecting from theinner head thereof, a resilient socket formed in the post of the othermember, said post comprising two upright plates carrying said socket,said plates being united along their vertical edges.

4. A separable cuff link-button, comprising independent members eachhaving an outer head and an inner head, the inner heads being adapted tobe inserted through the opposite button-holes of the cuff, facing eachother, and there retained each independently of the other, each memberhaving an upright post or shank consisting of two 5. A separable cufilink-button comprising cooperating stud and socket button members, thesocket member having an outer head, an inner head, and a shank unitingthe two, the latter consisting of two opposing' members united alongtheir vertical edges and containing between them a recess presentingresilient socket walls.

6. A separable cuflf link-button comprising cooperating stud and socketbutton mem bers, the socket member having an inner head, an outer head,a connecting shank formed of two plates having between them a recesspresenting resilient socket walls for the reception of a stud, saidinner head being apertured to permit the entrance of said stud to saidsocket, the walls of said plates being united either sideof said socketto prevent the spreading thereof.

7. A separable cuff link-button comprising cooperating stud and socketbutton mem bers, the socket member having an inner head, an outer head,a connecting shank formed of two plates having between them a recesspresentingresilient socket walls for the reception of a stud, said innerhead being apertured to permit the entrance of said stud to said socket,the walls of said plates being stiffened either side of said socket toprevent the spreading thereof.

' 8. A separable cuff link-button comprising cooperating stud and socketbutton me1n bers, the socket member having an inner head, an outer head,and a connecting post being formed by two opposing members presentingbetween them a resilient, walled recess with a flared mouth.

9.-A separable cufi' link-button comprising cooperating stud and socketbutton members, the socket member having an inner head, an outer head,and a connectingshank formed by two opposing members, the op- Copies ofthis patent may be obtained for posing walls of which are slittedandformed to present a resilient stud-receiving socket. 10 A separable cufflink-button, comprising independent members having each an bers, thesocket member having an inner head, an outer head and a connecting post,

the latter having a socket enlargement with slit, yieldable walls and acontracted throat.

12. A separable cuff link-button comprising cooperating stud and socketbutton members, the socket member having the flanged head 18, walls 19,ribs 21 and socket formation 20*. 1

13. A separable cufl" link-button compris ing cooperating stud andsocket button members, the socket'member having the flanged head 18,walls 19, and reinforcing flange 50.

14. A separable cuff link-button comprising independent button memberseach havits button member and said companion button member presenting ,aresilient socket in which said connecting member is adapted to beentered, or from which it may be withdrawn, said companion button memberalso having a swinging movement with relation to said connecting memberwhen the two button members are secured together.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.-

CHARLES D. LYONS.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. G.

